Niche Gamer
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Although it is always fun to play a new Jackbox Party Pack, the Jackbox Naughty Pack misses the mark slightly with its selection of games and limited game modes. Two of the games feel too similar to other game modes that Jackbox In has put out before and feel you are paying for something that you could create on your own. The adult topics are raunchy at first but a majority of the questions and prompts feel like they were written by children pretending to be adults. Honestly, it would have been interesting if Jackbox pushed the envelope a bit further and gave more options; it felt like they played it too safe.
Ultimately, I loved my time with The Plucky Squire, the developers clearly have the fundamentals of platforming down and compensate for a lack of difficulty with its heartwarming story and cute characters (Moonbeard is my favorite). The feel-good story will capture both adults and children, as will the forgiving (but fun!) gameplay and puzzles. All Possible Futures does a fantastic job using the tropes of fairy tales to tell a sincere story of fate, heroism, and the responsibility to have faith in ourselves to change and grow.
The grab-bag remixes of Yar’s Revenge are surprising and not knowing what is coming next keeps the gameplay engaging, even if Emi’s stealth mechanics are as basic as possible. At the very least, WayForward took an old Atari game that nobody cared about and did something new and interesting with it.
Astro Bot is a crowd-pleasing kind of game, but it is also a very superficial one that you forget about after playing. The haptics and the sensory experience from playing are novel, but after a while, there is not much else to the game. It can be depressing for older gamers who wish the cameos didn’t feel like you were in a wax museum of dead celebrities; a haunting reminder of Sony squandering some of their classic games.
If you aren’t bothered by long runs and enjoy turn-based combat, then HELLCARD is a pretty good choice for a roguelike. The Bruja DLC is also a very solid addition to the game and worth picking up.
Stealth games are rare these days and Evotinction is a worthy effort that leans more in the direction of strategy than action. The graphics look great thanks to the artists being responsible with their limitations and the music elevates the atmosphere. The protagonist is unrealistically limited by what the game demands and the enemy designs are uninspired. Yet, Evotinction is a game I admire for its ingenuity and tactical gameplay.
If you are considering picking up this game it is better to wait until it goes on sale than to buy it at full price. The game can be completed in 2 to 4 hours even with the bugs. Ultimately it is your choice if you want to pick it up or not.
The straightforward controls, intuitive gameplay, and bright colors make it a reasonably good game for kids, but when judged through more objective lenses, it falls a bit short, especially when compared to other 3D platformers released in recent times.
If you are looking for a fun hack-and-slash game or something enjoyable to play consider picking up Gori: Cuddly Carnage instead of more expensive titles. The side missions alone will give you something else to enjoy and are a good way to get money to upgrade your abilities.
The value gamers get in the Castlevania Dominus Collection is unbeatable, and each title included offers something unique. Whether it is Dawn of Sorrow‘s touchscreen gimmicks, Portrait of Ruin‘s tag-teaming, or the savage difficulty of Order of Ecclesia, you can expect to have a grand time with any of them. They’re masterworks all, you can’t go wrong.
Overall, Star Wars Outlaws is an adequate game that gives you a decent Star Wars experience but isn’t anything memorable. Yes there are different ways to enjoy the game but the soft locks, forced stealth, and checkpoint system can make you not want to continue playing. The game does feature some fun gameplay elements such as Sabacc and Nix interactions but it doesn’t drive the overall experience.
Anyone interested in a laid-back comedy adventure game with a soul will have a lot to chew on with Repella Fella. It is a surprisingly lengthy and epic game that is twice as long as you’d expect and feels like bingeing a short season’s worth of episodes or an exceptionally long animated film.
Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is another hit for Tengo Project and Natsume Atari. This feels like it is their best work yet given the scope of the game, added content, and gameplay enhancements. You won’t find a better 2D action ninja game than this and it is not for the faint of heart.
White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies – Complete Edition is a disappointing reiteration of the original. It removes features and streamlines the experience, while also telling a story incoherently. At the very least, some scary moments managed to make my blood run cold thanks to the impressive atmosphere and the puzzles were stimulating.
If you miss Goemon and the kind of off-beat Japanese humor that came with it, BAKERU delivers the fun while also being a gigantic platformer epic. This is the kind of game you used to see during the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube days but made with the dazzling veneer of modern technology and effects.
If you’re looking for a game that will ease someone into the VR experience, or allow someone who might be prone to sensory overload, Grokit‘s Mixed Reality approach might be the perfect tool to bridge that gap.
Nihon Falcom used to be a pioneer in the game industry. They revolutionized action RPGs and set the standard with awesome character art. Tokyo Xanadu eX+ feels like a fall from grace. Now Falcom copies whatever is trendy. They recycle concepts and assets and the art used in Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is utterly bland and generic. It is an unfortunate sign of the times that Falcom has resorted to these practices to keep going and stay afloat in an industry that is spiraling out of control.
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is a heart-stopping, adrenaline-fueled shoot-em-up. Its steep learning curve may initially deter gamers, but mastering its intricacies leads to an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience. The sheer intensity of the action is almost overwhelming, pushing the limits of human perception, yet it’s undeniably impressive in its fearless approach.
STAR WARS™: Bounty Hunter™ was never a great game and while this new port does address many of its issues, it still isn’t the best it could be. Despite its flaws, this is still a very enjoyable action game and a lot of that has to do with its sensibilities being tied to the early 2000s when games could let players indulge in their inner sadist and didn’t morally grandstand about their actions. STAR WARS™ might be lame and gay today, but Bounty Hunter™ will always be the cool edgy kid that smoked behind the school.
Cat Quest III is a very light and fun action-adventure game with pleasing visuals and an open world to explore with a friend. Kids or anyone who enjoys the Lego games will find that there is a lot to enjoy in Cat Quest III. Even with the awkward ship combat, the gameplay is breezy enough that it won’t hinder the experience.